World Cup 2026 preview: Groups E-H – Football Weekly
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This is The Guardian.
Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. Here's part two then of our World Cup previews.
What teams are in Group E of the World Cup 2026?
Groups E to H. Group E, Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao. There's a 40-year-old keeper and a 78-year-old manager in there. Group F, will the Netherlands implode as usual? Can Japan shine without Matoma? Tunisia and Graham Potter's Sweden there too. Group G looks nice for Belgium with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand. Now the All Blacks with a chance for another undefeated DVD. And Sid joins us for Group H as Spain line up against Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia. This is the Guardian Football Weekly.
on the panel for this one. Barry Glendening, welcome. Hello, Max. And can I just say that after yesterday's disgracio, I have done an exhaustive search of Sunderland players at the World Cup and who they're playing for.
Excellent. I really hope you mess it up again. Jonathan Wilson, welcome. Morning, how are you doing? Very well, thank you. And Paul Watson, how are you? Hi, Max. Yeah, good, good. You're joining us for the first nine days of the World Cup, although you're not coming for day one, because why? I'm presenting the Football in Berkshire Awards, Max. Of course you are. Priorities. And are you a veteran of the Football in Berkshire Awards?
It's my third year and I've retained the gig. Initially, they wanted Jeff Stelling, but he was otherwise engaged. And I've just sort of stuck in there and kept taking it. As long as Jeff keeps in work, I keep the Football in Berkshire Awards.
Good stuff. All right, well, let's get on with Group E. Then Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Germany managed by Julian Nagelsmann. Of course, they have won it before. Went out in the group stages last time, though. That memorable defeat to Japan. Curaçao. managed by Dick Advocat and the first World Cup for them. Ivory Coast, managed by Emma Fay. Best ever. Just the group stages. Never got through to the knockouts 2006, 2010 and 2014. And Ecuador, managed by Sebastian Bacaceche. if I pronounced that correctly. Got to the last 16 in 06, knocked out in the group stages last time. Should we start with Germany then, Wilson? How do you see them faring?
I mean, they'll go through because the format of a tournament means it's almost impossible for them not to go through. But I don't think this is a good Germany side. And the problem we've seen with them the last two tournaments, is they don't have a centre-forward. And that is no different. They've left out Full Krug, which I guess makes sense, given he's barely played. Havertz might have to play as a false nine. I mean, the three forwards they've named, Nick Valtamada, who, as we know, is not an out-and-out number nine. Dennis Underwood has had a decent season with Stuttgart. I think he's got six in eight for Germany, so he can score. And Maximilian Bayer from Dortmund, who I believe has yet to score for Germany.
And then you look at the line behind that, which is where the strength should be. Serge Gnabry left out. Musiala got that terrible injury against PSG in the Champions League. Is he going to be fully fit? Florian Wurz has obviously had a bit of a weird season at Liverpool. So I think there's question marks all over the place. And then they brought back Neuer, which I think surprised everybody. At 40, he's suddenly back in the team. So I think there's loads of questions there. They'll be fine for the first two weeks, but maybe not after that.
Baz, German thoughts? Yeah, the goalkeeper thing is interesting. Oliver Baumann from Hoffenheim is also in the squad. He only has 11 caps. Neuer, is his presence going to cause friction? Are they going to fall out? It wouldn't be the first time two German goalkeepers fell out. That's for sure. And it looks like they could meet France in the quarterfinal. And if they do, I suspect that could be it for Germany.
Yeah. Although, I mean, Havertz is actually a brilliant footballer, Paul, but he can do that job. He's done that job a lot. You know, Arteta preferred him up front in a sort of false 90 up front position in the Champions League final.
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